The latest in Tim Tebow’s long line of stunts to stay in the public eye after his failed NFL career, reports have surfaced that the former Heisman trophy winner will be trying to make an attempt at a baseball career in a story that is made for the sports talk radio circuit.
Despite the fact that Tebow hasn’t played baseball since his Junior year in high school, the former quarterback seems to be intent on trying out a new sport in an attempt to remain relevant in the sports world for just a little while longer. A tour of attempts at landing an MLB contract the latest news story that will keep Tebow in the spotlight.
Tebow’s agent has insisted that the move is not a publicity stunt, telling Ken Rosenthal that Tebow is determined to accomplish his goal of playing in the big leagues.
“This may sound like a publicity stunt, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have seen Tim’s workouts, and people inside and outside the industry – scouts, executives, players and fans – will be impressed by his talent. As an agent, I have a genuine respect for how hard it is to succeed at the game of baseball and a true admiration for those who possess the talent to play it at the Major League level. Tim’s tool set is real. His physicality is unique in professional baseball. His work ethic is unprecedented, and his passion for the game is infectious. He knows the challenges that lie ahead of him given his age and experience, but he is determined to achieve his goal of playing in the Major Leagues.”
Tebow’s agent may be saying all of the right things, but it is clearly a publicity stunt from his client to attempt to garner some attention by trying out for teams in August as if Tebow was truly serious about playing professional baseball he would have been seeking out teams in Spring Training. Not at the tail end of the baseball season where he is going on a publicity tour where he will go swing some bats and the press will follow him wherever he goes as he lives out a fantasy of trying to be a baseball player.
Yes, Tebow hit over .400 in his Junior year in high school and is still a physical specimen who could latch on to play some A or AA ball, but it seems laughable to suggest that Tebow could ever play in the Majors at 28. Especially considering that many top prospects take years of development to crack a roster and achieve their MLB dreams.
While teams will gladly line up to get some of the spotlight that Tebow brings with him wherever he goes thanks to sports media outlets insisting on giving coverage to a 28-year-old former college football star, this latest stunt from Tebow is insulting to the minor league players who play for little to no money every summer to chase their dreams. Tebow wants to turn their sacrifice into a media tour for himself to continue to keep his name in the spotlight, even if he has little chance of ever playing for an MLB team. For a person who lives off being a champion of morals, it is a shame to see Tebow so desperate for the limelight in his post-NFL career.
Expect Tebow to get a chance to play minor league baseball somewhere as the Independent leagues or a struggling A or AA ballclub will certainly embrace the ticket sales and national attention in exchange for giving Tebow some at-bats. However, when it comes to Tebow achieving his “goal of playing in the Major Leagues” in the words of his agent, that simply is not going to happen for a 28-year-old who hasn’t played competitive baseball since his Junior year of high school.
